Korean Immigrants, Blacks Use Churches as Bridge to Ease Tensions

Using their shared Christian beliefs as a bridge, Korean-American and black churches in Los Angeles have begun a series of programs aimed at easing tensions between the two communities.

Incidents have arisen as Korean merchants in recent years have steadily increased their ownership of small businesses in black communities. They often employ only family members and have frequent language and cultural problems in dealing with black customers.

The Korean Grocery and Liquor Retailers Assn. estimated two weeks ago that Koreans now own more than 25% of the independent grocery and liquor stores in Los Angeles.

Problems Addressed

Conflicts reported in the black press over the last three years prompted efforts by the county Human Relations Commission, the Koreatown Development Assn. and others to address the problems. But church-related projects have turned out to be one of the most promising methods of seeking understanding, according to some leaders in the dialogue.

About 60% to 70% of the Korean immigrants in the Los Angeles area are thought to consider themselves Christian, a much higher ratio than in South Korea.

One of the first programs launched by the Koreatown Development Assn. was to encourage a sister-church program between 20 Korean and 20 black congregations, inaugurated in a ceremony last February. Exchanges of choirs and other fellowship affairs, plus a joint Easter service at MacArthur Park, have used the common bonds between the predominantly Protestant Korean and black churches to get acquainted.

In addition, a large Korean congregation, which is now part of the sister-church program, awarded $5,000 in scholarships for four black students this year and plans to repeat it next year.

‘Brothers and Sisters’

“We did it first to have good relations with the black community and secondly because we are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,” said the Rev. John Song, an assistant minister at the Oriental Mission Church.

The most recent venture was a 10-day trip to South Korea for seven black pastors arranged by the Council of Korean Churches in Southern California.

“We hope to bridge the gap with the unity of Christian faith,” said the Rev. Paul J. Park of Garden Grove, executive secretary of the church council. The ministers visited tourist and industrial sights as well as churches. Although Korean Christian businessmen in Los Angeles and Seoul paid for hotel, food and travel in the host country, the pastors paid their air fare.

The Korean-American leaders said the clergymen were chosen for their positions of influence in the black community. Ike Han, the development association’s secretary general, cited the example of Pastor W. Jerome Fisher of Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Compton, who went on the trip.

‘Will Be Understanding’

“Rev. Fisher has about 3,000 members in his church,” Han said, “so if he said anything about Korean people being warmhearted, then 3,000 members will understand him very well. If there is any conflict (in Los Angeles), Rev. Fisher will be understanding.”

Another pastor on the early October trip was the Rev. H. P. Rachal, president of the Black Ecumenical Fellowship in Los Angeles. He has been involved in the field of Korean-black relations for the last 10 years, stemming from his own experience at his church in South-Central Los Angeles.

“It came about when Chung Lee, who bought the dairy across the street, came to me and wanted to be friends because he felt there would be a time when there would be tensions,” Rachal said in his office at the Greater New Unity Baptist Church, a congregation of about 800 members. “I thought it was a good gesture on his part.”

Rachal indicated, however, that his congregation had to deal with feelings common to many other black residents.

‘They Are Warm People’

Besides economic concerns, “most of us were under the impression that Koreans didn’t like blacks,” Rachal said. “We found that was not true; they are warm people. I have wanted to expose a lot of other ministers to that.”

Rachal’s church has hosted some Human Relations Commission meetings and participated in the sister-church exchanges.

“I feel we have lightened some of the tensions. I think this can be done through the churches because we speak to the masses,” Rachal said.

Communication problems still exist between Korean merchants and black neighbors, he said.

“The tone of voice that blacks use, the loudness, upsets them,” Rachal said. Korean merchants are likely to think the customer is hostile whereas Machal said it is more a manner of speaking.

A Korean War veteran, Rachal said he was greatly impressed with the changes he saw on his visit to South Korea. In addition to Korean industriousness and culture, Rachal said the visits to churches and to a prayer breakfast underlined what he already had known--”they are a very religious people and a very praying people, whether they are Buddhist or Christian.”

Contacts in Other Cities

Rachal, who is a member of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., said he has already initiated contacts with black pastors in other cities where Korean immigrant-black neighborhood problems are said to be growing--Chicago, New York and Philadelphia.

“In 1986, we are going back with a larger delegation of about 20 ministers from other cities,” he said.

Although leaders of the Korean immigrant community have focused on improving relations with black communities, some are hoping to extend the programs to Latino leaders, too.

As a good-will expression as well as concern for earthquake victims, the Rev. John Kim, pastor of a Korean church in Lakewood, said the 20-denomination Council of Korean Churches raised $2,288 a few weeks ago for relief work in Mexico City.